Sunday, March 15, 2015

the farmhouse in snow... lots of snow

Hello and welcome back.

I want to thank you ALL once again for the love, support, prayers, comments and emails you have sent to me, Dan and Ella in the unexpected loss of sweet Amelia. We are slowly healing and have felt the undeniable comfort of the power of prayer by having so many people say a prayer for Amelia and for us. Every night when I light candles around the house I say a prayer of gratitude for you... each and every one of you. Words can not express the depth of my gratitude and appreciation for all of the love you have sent to us.

From my heart I thank you.

I felt it was time to start blogging again and I have been asked by quite a few people (especially those of you in the south;) to show the farmhouse in all the snow we've gotten this winter- and it has been a lot! Some of the photos need an extra foot or more to depict the true height of the snow, but every time I would take photos for you I couldn't imagine that we'd get even more snow on top of what we already had! (I think that is called "survivalist thinking" :) We heard on the news several weeks ago that this is the third snowiest winter in New Hampshire on record. Considering that we landed in New Hampshire smack in the middle of the second snowiest winter on record back in 2008 we feel we have definitely earned our "New England winter survival" scout badge!

I once wrote on the blog, years ago, regarding living through the snowy winter in New Hampshire...

"Itis absolutely beautiful, but what truly surprises, delights and amazes me on a daily basis is hownatural this winterscape is to the soul of this born-and-raised Texan."

I feel sooooo grateful that I still feel this way. While it hasbeen a long, snowy winter (even as I type this post- with feet of snow still on the ground and a snowstorm blowing outside:) I have loved every second of it. Winter in New England is magical to me. Yes, I'm sure in a month I will be antsy for spring to arrive in May, but it "is" winter here and it is beautiful and I am embracing it. That's why we moved here to experience all four seasons fully and.... we are!

So, take a look around and see how pretty the farmhouse looks in all this snow!

The stone beehives at the entrance buried in snow.

The snow came up to the top of the porch steps after this snow storm.

Ella loves the snow!

The south french door in the barn room. Needless to say we weren't using this door;)

It amazes me each year that the plants and flower bulbs manage to survive under the frozen ground and heavy blanket of snow. It really is a miracle. Before you know it you will see green sprouts coming up. Ella looks so adorable in her coat and boots. And the house looks so beautiful with the blanket of snow layers surrounding it.

Gorgeous! This Texan can't begin to imagine living with all that snow. It's beautiful, but I know that life can't be easy when dealing with that amount of snow. Our sweet Sadie girl wouldn't want to go outside. ;-)Love the little booties. Who makes them?

I am so glad you posted the snow. My goodness it is deep! Do you have to rake it off the roofs too? As you know my son moved to Maine this fall. He is loving it. They have had 90 inches of snow in his area since he got there. Personally I love winter and the stillness. It is a pleasant break for the soul after the rush of the holidays and before spring burst forth. Kisses to sweet Ella.

hi Dianne, Yes, coastal Maine really got hit hard this year (like Boston) - much more than us. Yes, Dan does rake the roofs (that he can reach - no ladders involved;) to get the weight off. Glad you son is loving it. I loved how you described winter and the stillness- perfect!

Glad to see that you're posting again! Your home looks gorgeous with all the snow- We have about the same amount here on the Cape but unlike you I have definitely had enough of the white stuff and can not wait for it to be gone! Looking forward to warm weather and getting out in my yard and garden again! Stay warm! Barbara P from Ma

Oh my goodness sooooo happy to see ya back, the pics are just sooooo beautiful.We have been in Michigan for three yearsand being a southerner born bred Texanand Louisiana roots to, i loved the snow we had but some of those temps were boneraw chilling.Bittersweet as I am sending this we areenroute back to Big D, just for hubbyto finish out his career and retirement.Love Love the pic of Miss Ella, she looks sooadorable in her coat and boots.Thank you for sharingWe send big big and bunches of kissaroosand bear hugs to Ella from Tank and Tanner

I am surprised Ella wears the little boots. Our dog would NOT wear them when we tried. Your photos are gorgeous, thanks for sharing them. I am not a fan of winter at all and just tolerate it. We had very little snow this year, it always seemed to skirt us and head right for you! It really IS beautiful, I love watching it fall but after 2 days or so I am over it;):) Thanks again for sharing this and I hope you are all healing....slowly. XO, Pinky

We got a fair share of snow in the NE corner of Ohio and though I love the snow, I'm happy to see the grass! I think my favorite spot of all in your home would be by the fireplace in the kitchen petting dear Ella who looks so cute in her coat and "shoes."

Oh my Joan! Your photos of the snow around your home are gorgeous! I especially like the one with the trees and the orb. And sweet Ella looks adorable in her snow boots! I was so glad to see your email!

Your pictures are beautiful. Here in Mississippi we had a whopping 6" of snow three weeks ago. We had ice the next week,and this past week we had rain. Today the Bradford pears are blooming out and the tulips and buttercups are blooming! It does keep things interesting. As I always say,I love all your posts and pictures. Please keep them coming.

I was so excited to see a new post from you! It's crazy how much snow you have gotten this year! I can't even imagine! This year our winter has been incredibly mild. I don't think we have had more than 6" in KS city. I love how pretty the snow is but I tire of it quickly. Spring is my favorite season so I'm always anxious for it to show up. Our trees are already budding!So glad you are back to blogging. I hope your heart is healing.

But it looked like y'all got hit hard this winter?? We were just talking about driving through the Panhandle on our way to Colorado the other day. I always thought it had a special kind of beauty! Miss those drives! Enjoy the warm weather.

I am glad to see you are back and love the beauty of the snow. I love your house almost as much as you do. There is something about New England in every season of the year. I am glad that Ella loves the snow. My dogs always did too. I hope one day to have such a place again... I do miss New England. I have lived in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and visited as far as Denver area in the west... but of all the places I miss the most New England is it. Specifically New Hampshire and Maine. One day....

All of these pictures are beautiful! I am still choked up about Amelia!

And the ceilings of your porches show beautifully with all the snow! Since 44 years ago; when I first started decorating here in Southern California.....I said..."the ceilings of the porches have to be blue!! And not just any blue!!" You have the right blue!!!

It must have been that hellish two years I spent in boarding school (prison) i Northampton Mass....1962-1964; I was so lucky to visit some wonderful families who "took me in" at Thanksgiving!!!! New Canaan Conn (Kathy Sneaker) later married Ron somebodyorother;Laurie Hoffacker......the coolest house EVER in Rhode Island.....( they had the best boat I have ever seen to this day!!!) (it was called Warwick; Rhode Island!!) and their house was on the water.....and had a central staircase that went up three floors....with a skylight of some sort at the top1

hi Penelope, Yes, I tested many ceiling blues to find just the "right one"! Boarding "prison" :) That is funny. Have you stayed in touch with your old friends from Rhode Island? We were down there just last week to antique.

Loss is hard. My dear friend, Cindy, died of breast cancer on Thanksgiving day. Her children, particularly, her young son who is 16 years old, are having a very hard time dealing with her death. She was 52 years old.

Beautiful pictures. I have some questions to ask about the snow . In my part of Australia snow is something we don't see. What sort of damage does the snow do to the house. ie: around the windows, do you have to get it off the roof to stop it from becoming too heavy and when it melts what happens to the water does it run away from the building ? I know probably fairly naïve questions.

Not naive at all Karen. We don't see a lot of damage around the windows per say, but this year we will be painting certain sides of the exterior of the house as the elements have caused the paint to chip/peel/come off - mainly the southern facing and a few random spots. Yes, "roof rakes" (think metal rakes on really long poles) are very common here. Dan will rake the roofs to keep the weight off. We have french drains around the house that usher the water away from the house, but we also have a sump pump in the basement just in case!

Hello Joan, Somehow it seems very appropriate to be enjoying the snow from an old house--like a Currier and Ives print come to life. Of course, winter must be a lot more enjoyable with an on-premises snow plow, especially when combined with a willing operator.--Jim

I like the visual of a C & I's print come to life Jim! Yes, it is indeed nice to have big blue and my plow boy handy. But, sometimes (actually surprising often) Dan will be out of town during a snow storm and I will be snowed in until he gets home and plows! Those snowed in snow days are actually favorites of mine!

Southern New Hampshire got it worse this year than we did in northern Vermont. Although we still got our fair share, probably about two feet overall with bitter cold temps in Feb. Still have about a foot on the ground in some places. But don't you find that the colder the temps, the more beautiful the sunrises and sunsets are, and the trees are spectacular! But we're warm and cozy inside our post and beam home with beautiful lighting on the wood this time of year. While we're all getting antsy for spring, I'm with you and trying to enjoy all the beauty nature has to give us, in all of her seasons. Good to "see" you back. Take care.

hi Bev, And we had much less snow than Boston (who usually gets far less than us) and the Maine coast. Yes, gorgeous sunrises and sunsets over the mountains in the distance. So blessed to be inside and warm and cozy indeed!

I'm glad you're back. Smiling at these pictures from Connecticut. We had two warm days last week which caused some flooding in some areas but everyone was so happy to see the snow disappearing no one moaned about the water! Love the pictures of Ella. My pups carved a trail to run on one side of our property, sheltered by pine trees because the snow was too deep in most of their other favorite hangouts. Occasionally they would venture into the deep snow and go crazy, jumping and diving and burrowing which was hilarious. They're both white so they always had to keep their little orange coats on so we could find them in the snow!

It's crazy the amount of snow y'all have gotten this year Steve. Dig out the boxwoods?? I'm sorry, I don't understand the question. Ours are buried under the snow (which I think protects them??) Except for the ones in pots- those are in the basement and the garage. I contemplated covering the rows of boxwoods with burlap and the wood frames (like Martha and Carolyne Roehm do)- but we were lazy fall gardeners and didn't get around to doing that :) Sorry about the Japanese maple :(

I'm very envious. I live in a California mountain resort where we have had one of the driest winters on record. Most winters our home looks like your's, blanketed in snow. This year my trees are already blooming and I've had to start watering! Send some of that snow out west please.

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures. I love New England and the winter to me is just as magical as the other three seasons. Ella looks adorable and is ready for the snow! My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you both during the loss of Amelia. What an amazing gift you were to each other.

Joan I have missed you and are so glad you are back. You are still in my prayers. We are in Connecticut but we didn't get as much snow as you did. One of our sons is in Massachusetts and is over 6 feet tall. He said the snow in his front yard is almost to his shoulders. Our snow is finally melting and I can't wait to get started outside.

Hi ! So glad to see you posting ! I look every day :)I am so tired of the sight of snow ... how tired ? well, I finally gave in and I am going to move South. Not as far South as I would like, I still want to go back to Argentina, but Florida will have to do.Being alone through this winter did me in. Even Minette is crabby .. she wants to see her chipmunks again.I remember when my Standard Poodle, Tate, would throw himself in the snow, the delight , the manic fun he had ... and then we would sit on the floor with towels and brushes and spend hours getting the ice balls out of his hair .. oy , what a mess.But his joy in that snow was worth it !Sending love ..

Your photos of your home and yard are so beautiful. I love the light in them. We have also had a lot of snow this winter in eastern Canada and got through another huge blizzard yesterday. I've lived here all my life but never really 'embraced' winter, especially the last 10 years. Must be an age thing. And we don't go south at all. We stick it out here. We are all looking forward to spring weather in May as that is when it will be best and prettiest here. Enjoy what's left of this season and the new one to come. Pamela

I'm so glad to see you're back! I've been thinking of you. Your home looks beautiful in the snow, but it always looks beautiful regardless of season! My dog runs though the snow like a crazy pup, sticking her nose in the snow as she runs. Fun to watch :-)Betsy

Joan,Ella could be on the cover of Dog Fancier magazine with that outfit! Matching coat and boots, how wonderful. :-)The farmhouse looks like a Christmas card photo. So beautiful. How do you keep the moisture from the snow from seeping in under the French doors when it stacks up to the glass that way?As a Southern California girl I have always longed to live where there are 4 seasons and most easterners have cautioned me against that wish. It's nice to hear you still embrace the season. We were at the 90 degree mark on Sunday. :-(xo,Karen

So happy to see your post today! Having grown up in Illinois but now living in Georgia, I was thrilled to see your pictures of lots and lots of snow. That brings back some very fun memories. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Your house looks beautiful wrapped in a blanket of white and I'm gad that you enjoy the snow. I'm not a fan and here in SE Virginia we had more than I like this winter. It was 74 degrees here today - halleluiah! In your pictures I spotted the sticks with the pink ribbon. I'm guessing those are used to mark the walkways and the driveway so Dan will know where to plow the snow? Does he use Big Blue for that job? Ella is so adorable in her coat and boots - she is such a good dog. Take care, Vikki in VA

My wife and I have often dreamed of following in your footsteps... leaving Texas for the Northeast and enjoying the beauty. I have missed experiencing it through your blog, thanks for sharing and again my heart goes out to you and Dan for your loss of Amelia...a very dark day for me when we lost our Winston. God will turn your mourning into dancing... He did for us!

Your photography is wonderful and a real pleasure to always see. That said, living in a snow belt region (Canada/Ontario) in all honesty I cannot wait until it disappears and am so looking forward to Spring. ☺ -Brenda-P.S: Can relate to your loss of Amelia and feel your pain, as not quite a month ago I had to make the decision of putting our sweet little (11 1/2 year old) Cockapoo to sleep. (She was diagnosed with Kidney Disease in November which rapidly escalated to a stage four and sadly all treatment had failed.) She too loved the snow like Ella.

This was a beautiful post and a special reminder to all those who either have or do not have treasured pets, that those feeling go very deeply and should be respected. I'm truly sorry for your loss, but it sounds like Amelia spread lots of love in her short time with you.

When I decided to check in on your blog, I had no idea I was in for sad, sad night. My heart breaks for Amelia that she did not have more time in such a wonderul home where she was loved so well. But I also feel that her last days could not have been happier, and the excellent care you gave her and her compassionate end help lessen the sadness. We found a lost beagle many years ago - named him Mr. march because we rescued him in a march blizzard and we had him for only 4 years before he had a very bad back ailment that was extremely painful. Your sharing about Amelia has brought that painful time back into focus, and though it was so very hard to let little Mr. march go, we knew it was the only thing we could do to save him from his pain. Like you, we knew we gave him the very best years of his life and that was some comfort. Your home looks beautiful in the snow, what a wonderful place for a playful dog to live! Though we moved to Georgia to escape the snow, I must say that it does look quite beautiful.

I sure enjoyed the sunsets over the snow pictures, especially since we are having early summer in southwest Florida. Loved the last picture of Ella dressed in her red coat and boots! I got our Holly a little purple raincoat to wear for the Florida summer rains when she absolutely has to go out!

Happy to see a post from you today. Healing is good...it just takes time.I wish I could say I am enjoying winter as much as you are. With 6 and 7 ft drifts still around the house, I honestly can say I've had enough and ready for spring to arrive. Maybe I should seriously think of moving where the winters are not so harsh....sighEnjoy your weekend.

Joan, Dan, and Ella: I was so happy to see a new post from you! Love the pictures and of course Ella with her coat and pawz! As much as I love snow, Mike and I found that we didn't do as much snow shoeing or skiing, as we would have liked; it was so cold. That said, nothing beats spring skiing and then on to the yard clean up, which I look forward to. That's why we live in NE; all the seasons hold something special.

Love your pics and sweet Ella! Thanks for sharing.....we only had one really good snow this winter....about 7 in and that's the first in several years. I think I would love living up north...I love the snow!! Blessings~~Shine

GaaaWWW. That is SOME snow! Won't that be a LOT of thaw...wet...?? Ella in her boots and coat!! Adorb! She has no prob with the little boots?? Wishing you some green. Do you plant bulbs that start showing their pretty face in spring??

Welcome! Thank you for leaving a comment; you have no idea how much your comments inspire me to keep writing- I appreciate each and every one. Comments are moderated by me prior to publishing on the blog, so if you don't see your comment post immediately it will be posted as soon as I receive it and read it. joan

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"when every corner speaks of possibility I know that I am home." -unknown-

Twelve years ago I could not have even pointed out New Hampshire on a map, but here we are! Nine years ago, after living for 15 years in the beehive that is Dallas, Dan and I finally escaped and landed in a very small town in New Hampshire that doesn't even have a traffic light. Perfection! Our move was a huge risk, but it has paid off with dividends and we absolutely love it here. I think we are really Yankees at heart. If you've never been to New England I cannot describe it with adequate words, you really just have to experience it. It is like no other part of the country. Its beauty matches our beloved Colorado, Oregon, and Washington and its spirit (Live Free or Die) is reminiscent of Texas, and the people... well, we have found them to be most genuine. In essence... we feel as if we have arrived home!

the living room

the kitchen

the dining room

the reading room

the master bedroom

the master bath

the North guest room

the South guest room

the guest bath

the barn room

the summer barn room

the barn half bath

the barn mud room

With the eyes to see it and the hands to create it, we can recover the home that the soul desires.
-A. Lawlor-

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fortheloveofahouse@comcast.net

my paint and stain colors:

It's a house with rooms that reflect a place, a feeling, a memory of the past.-unknown-

Simplicity-Making your life a creative work of art. A great piece of art is composed not just of what is in the final piece, but equally important, what is not. It is the discipline to discard what does not fit- to cut out what might have already cost days or even years of effort.